Ryan Barba Consulting Reviews 93

Working with Ryan was the most valuable decision I made during my MBA application process.

What set Ryan apart is that he didn’t just help me write better essays—he helped me understand how my application would actually be evaluated. He gave me a clear view into how MBA admissions committees assess candidates—and how that should change the way you present yourself compared to a typical job application. He also provided insight into how an admissions reader would likely react to each iteration of my materials, which made every round of feedback feel grounded in how my application would actually be experienced in the review process.

His experience reviewing thousands of applications is evident in his ability to quickly identify what would resonate—and what wouldn’t—with admissions readers. He was instrumental in identifying and proactively addressing potential weaknesses in my profile, ensuring nothing was left unexplained or working against me. He also brought a strong sense of what actually matters in the process, helping me focus on high-impact areas rather than getting lost in unnecessary detail. That shift in perspective changed how I approached everything, from structuring my story to aligning my experiences with my long-term goals.

Ryan’s feedback is candid, detailed, and iterative. He consistently pushed me to go deeper, think more clearly, and refine how I communicated my experiences with precision and intention. Over time, I saw a meaningful difference not just in my essays, but in how I articulated my own journey.

He also brought a strong sense of structure to the process. At every stage—school selection, essay development, and interview prep—I knew exactly what we were working toward and why. His approach is highly personalized and high-touch, and it was clear he was genuinely invested in my success from start to finish.

In contrast, some larger, high-volume admissions consulting firms I spoke with felt far more transactional—focused on hedging outcomes, encouraging me to apply to a significantly higher number of schools, and advising that I would only have fair admission odds if every element of my profile—from test scores to academics to extracurriculars—was essentially perfect. Ryan took a fundamentally different approach: he focused on building a strong, well-positioned application backed by clear, strategic thinking rather than relying on volume.

By the end of the process, I felt significantly more confident—not only in my application materials, but in how I represented myself in interviews. With Ryan’s guidance, I applied to four Top 15 programs and was admitted to Columbia, Yale, and NYU Stern (with scholarships from two of them). These outcomes exceeded what I would have achieved on my own, especially given my slightly softer GPA alongside GRE scores that were competitive but largely in line with program averages.

I was initially referred to Ryan by two friends who had also worked with him and saw outstanding outcomes—one admitted to Harvard and Stanford, and another to Wharton and Columbia. Notably, both independently shared the same observation: Ryan’s approach felt highly personalized and strategic, in clear contrast to the transactional, volume-driven mindset they encountered with larger firms that emphasized near-perfect profiles.

If you’re looking for someone who will invest deeply in your growth and hold you to a high standard, I would strongly recommend Ryan.

I'll let my results speak for themselves: With a GMAT score in the 75th percentile and a 3.4 GPA, Ryan helped me earn acceptances to Booth, MIT Sloan, and Kellogg - three of the four schools we worked on as a team. These results were very far above my expectations (I had doubts I'd get in to even one of these schools) and I can say with 100% certainty that these results would have never been possible without Ryan's help. He brings incredibly deep knowledge of how to succeed in this MBA admissions process, and knows how to coach, inspire confidence and creativity, and write with clarity. Our work together yielded application materials that were just so compelling and exciting to read; I had so much confidence submitting materials that I knew were so high quality. After helping me to negotiate offers, I then was able to negotiate a sizeable scholarship to Kellogg - my top choice program - and I'll be headed there in the fall. I can't wait!

I talked to several MBA consulting coaches and firms before hiring Ryan, and I could just tell from our first conversation that he's genuinely vested in his candidates' successes. I'm so glad I opted to work with him instead of one of the large consulting firms that hire hundreds of consultants. He's truly one of a kind and I couldn't be a happier client.

Ryan was crucial in helping me get into Wharton, my dream business school. With his expert advice, I was able to drastically improve my essays / personal statements, and to guide my recommenders for the LORs. I would not be where I am today without Ryan! Thanks for everything. Best, Rob

I was referred to Ryan from a friend who had worked with him in the past and had an awesome experience and awesome results. Long story short: I did too!

I worked with Ryan on 5 MBA applications last year, and am so thrilled that I elected to work with him. He's an incredible (and very patient!!!) mentor and just incredibly knowledgeable about anything and everything MBA-admissions related. He really, really knows the ins and outs of the top schools, what they look for, how to appeal to them, and so on. He's also just super smart: he was able to cut through my BS, keep me focused, push me to be clearer in my essays and resume, and find ways to creatively brand his candidates.

I was amazed at how successful we were as a team: I was accepted to Stanford GSB (my dream program), MIT Sloan, Kellogg, and Yale. I was interviewed but ultimately dinged at HBS: But that was on me; I just had a bad interview day after a terrible night's sleep.

I would've taken ONE acceptance, but ended up with 4!!! These results were far and away beyond what I was expecting, and I'm still a bit in shock.

I'll make this simple: If you're applying to business school, work with Ryan. You'll have zero regrets.

Ryan is an excellent coach, mentor, and communicator. He knows how to put his clients at ease and give them the confidence they need to go through the long MBA admissions process well! I really enjoyed working with Ryan - I experienced a lot of personal growth (in terms of getting clear on my career goals and goals for myself during business school) while also growing as a writer and communicator myself!

Without any doubt, my app materials were far superior with Ryan's help than I would've been able to construct on my own. He really pushed and encouraged me to go deeper, get more specific, and find my voice as a candidate (both in my essays and in my interviews).

My results were off the charts good - far and away above what I thought I would achieve with a 3.3 GPA (and a decent GMAT). I was accepted to MIT Sloan, Chicago Booth, and Kellogg, and Ryan helped me negotiate an excellent scholarship package to Booth, where I'm about to start school. I'm completely grateful and excited about the next step in my life!

My experience working with Ryan Barba was exceptional. He understands the inner workings of MBA admissions offices, how to position his clients for success in the grueling admissions process, and most importantly - how to coach, guide, and mentor. He's patient but direct. His feedback is always super clear and encourages deeper, clearer thinking. I can say without a doubt that my application - and especially my essays - would never have been as quality without his help. I am so grateful to my friend, a former client of Ryan, who recommended him to me.

I have two friends who hired MBA consultants from the large consulting firms. We were all applying to school at the same time this past year, to start school this fall. The difference in our experiences was night and day! Ryan's responsiveness, attention to detail, and how well he gets to really know his clients were all far superior to the experience my friends had. His editing and writing skills were so much better. His feedback was so much more clear and strategic. Midway through the application process, I found myself sharing the guidance Ryan gave me with my friends, who were awestruck by how solid the advice was. One tried to switch and work with Ryan but the consulting firm she'd hired refused giving her a refund.

Despite having a GMAT score below the average for the schools I applied to, I was very successful in the MBA admissions process - with acceptances to MIT Sloan, Chicago Booth, and Kellogg. Ultimately, I was accepted to three of the four schools Ryan and I worked on together - better results than I ever would've dreamed of considering my GMAT score.

My experience working with Ryan could not have been better. He's so well respected within the world of MBA Admissions for a reason: He really knows what he's doing, is chock full of knowledge, and understands both how to craft successful MBA applications and how to work with nervous, highly-stressed applicants (like me). Ryan is incredibly patient, thorough, and clear.

I worked with Ryan to apply to 5 business schools, with a 635 GMAT (Focus edition) and a slightly below average GPA for the top schools, and I still got into 3 of them - Stanford GSB, UCal Berkeley Haas, and Dartmouth Tuck. These results are far beyond what I was expecting - I didn't know if I'd get into any schools - and I know for a fact I would not have gotten into these schools without Ryan's help. The strategy and essays he helped me write were beyond what I could have done without his coaching, and I learned a lot about writing and communication just by working with him - he literally made me a better writer!

There are a lot of options out there for MBA consultants. I had a couple friends elect to work with those huge MBA consulting firms with hundreds of consultants, and their experience - and results - paled in comparison to mine. Don't go to one of these consulting "factories". Ryan only works with a few candidates at a time to ensure he's fully immersed in his clients and fully available to them. It shows, and it makes a huge difference.

Ryan completely exceeded my expectations and over-delivered on his promises to me. He coached me on 4 MBA applications, and three of them were successful - Wharton, Kellogg, and Booth! Not only that, but I received two very generous scholarship offers that will really make things easier for me financially. I'll be forever thankful to Ryan for his advice and guidance, and for the difference his help will make in my life! There's no better feeling than receiving acceptance letter from your dream school (for me, that was Booth). Go for the gold and hire Ryan to help you - I know I never would have been so successful without his help!

I had an excellent experience working with Ryan. He is an incredible wealth of knowledge and experience, and gave me great advice throughout the process.

His constructive feedback on my essays was invaluable and he reviewed countless drafts until i had them just right. Ryan is not afraid to tell you when an essay needs a complete rewrite, and I am so glad he pushed me to deliver the best product that I could. We also did several mock interviews which gave me a lot of confidence going into the real thing.

Ryan has the patience of a saint and was incredibly responsive. He really went above and beyond to make sure I felt proud of the applications I was submitting.

My results speak for themselves - I was accepted into several top programs including my dream school, HBS.

I'll keep this short: Ryan is incredible. He is more than an MBA advisor, he's a legitimate mentor. He provided what you'd expect from an MBA consultant - editing, structure, strategy. But I really went through the process feeling like I had a mentor and teammate by my side. The MBA application process to competitive programs is strenuous at times, but Ryan made it much more tolerable, manageable, and even enjoyable at times. He exceeded all my expectations, even after speaking with some of his former clients after committing to work with him.

I was accepted to HBS, Booth, Kellogg, and Tuck. I couldn't be more excited for school this year at HBS and will never lose sight of how grateful I am to Ryan for his help.

The experience of working with Ryan exceeded my expectations in every way. Yes, he knows his stuff when it comes to MBA admissions - he knows all the top schools and what they look for, how to create a compelling story, and he's an amazing writer/editor. But he's also just an amazing mentor - thoughtful, supportive, fun. He's not afraid to tell you like it is, push you harder, and force you to "up your game" but he's also very approachable in how he delivers (even blunt and direct) feedback. My application would never have been nearly as high quality without his help and support, I have no doubt.

He helped me position myself in such a compelling, exciting way. I was so proud of my essays and application materials, and I just knew when I pressed the submit button that my application was impressive and would catch the attention of top schools. Having that confidence is just such a great feeling, especially considering how stressful the admissions process is. He gave me peace of mind!

With Ryan's help, I got into my dream school, Kellogg, with a sizeable scholarship. I also got admitted to MIT Sloan, Yale SOM, and Duke (also with a scholarship).

Excellent MBA consulting firm. Highly recommend Ryan Barba and his team!

As an international candidate, I had a lot to learn about the business school application process. I was extremely happy that a friend and former coworker recommended me to Ryan! He provided fantastic guidance through the entire application process, always gave great and candid advice, and was very patient with me. He made me feel confident in my candidacy, even when I had some doubts, and was always willing to give me a pep talk when I needed one. He was so patient, and has an amazing strategic mind and so much knowledge about MBA applications.

My results were unexpected to me: I got into Kellogg, Haas, and Cornell with a $50,000 per year scholarship, even though my GMAT score was below the average for these schools. I can't wait to move the United States and start business school in the fall! I could not have done it without Ryan, I'm certain!

I can't imagine having gone through the MBA application process without Ryan. He is just incredibly knowledgeable, understands the application process and how to succeed... and man can he write and edit. He's just so clear, so professional, so informed, and yet so much fun to work with. Even my recommenders loved talking to him. His dynamic personality made the process much more enjoyable, and I have no doubt that his coaching is the reason I'm readying to go to business school this fall. He literally uncovered ideas, strategies and stories I never would've thought of, that made my application truly, truly shine!

I entered the process really insecure about my candidacy. I had an "okay" GPA by the top school's standards - a 3.2 - and a 680 GMAT. Honestly, I didn't think I stood a chance at getting into a top school. Not only did Ryan help me get into Cornell, Duke, and McCombs, but I even got into what I considered to be a "super reach school" for me - Kellogg. All in all, I got into 4 of the 6 programs Ryan and I worked on together, and even got offered two sizable scholarships. I don't know how else to vouch for his incredible skills and how enjoyable he made the process, except to say that he's absolutely worth the investment. If you get the chance to work with Ryan, take it!

I worked with Ryan on my MBA applications in 2023, applying round 1 (September) and I had a fantastic experience working with Ryan. I dreamed of being accepted to a top school in the Boston / New England area, and I was accepted to Harvard Business School, MIT Sloan, and Dartmouth (Tuck) - all 3 schools I worked on with Ryan! Of course, I couldn't have been more excited with these results! Ryan is super credible, filled with school-specific knowledge that equipped me to create high-quality applications that really spoke to what what each school looked for, and even gave me clarity around my career goals and how to position myself uniquely and articulately. His advice was invaluable. Working with Ryan was actually fun (not what I expected for the MBA admissions process). He always made our calls enjoyable and collaborative, and he wasn't above giving me a little "pep talk" when I doubted my candidacy and background - I came from a non-traditional background and had doubts that my application would be competitive. Ryan really knows his stuff, and I never would have been as successful in this process without his guidance and mentorship!

My experience with Ryan was nothing short of life-changing. Not only did he help me craft successful applications - I was accepted to HBS, Kellogg, and Haas - but he helped me gain clarity on where I am going with my life AND how to structure an essay and argument with passion and a clear structure. He not only got me into business school, in other words; he made a better write and give me a clearer direction on where I'm headed. His coaching and mentorship were absolutely invaluable. I'm sad that the process of working with him is over; I really enjoyed working with and conversing with him! His instructions are clear, specific, and motivating. And I couldn't be happier with my results, especially considering that my GMAT was below the average for the schools I was accepted to. Fantastic in every way!

When I started working on my MBA applications, I turned for advice on how to approach this process to my friends who are currently studying or have already earned their MBA degrees and had experience in this process. They suggested I should contact a consultant and coincidently all of them, based on their past successful experience, advised I should contact Ryan. So I reach out to Mr. Barba at the end of September last year and he was really quick to reply and arrange an introductory call. Within two weeks, we started working on my applications. During the kick-off meeting, Ryan walked me through the whole process and gave me a basic outline of how we would approach it. Since I did not have much insight into the process, the kick-off part was extremely helpful. I worked together with Ryan for 3 months on my MBA applications and he gave me guidance on every step of the way. Ryan helped me tie my experiences with my future goals and create essays that got me interviews or acceptance to several top schools. I received unlimited reviews on my resume and essays as well as support on filling out other short answers on the applications.

I applied to 6 schools. I was invited to interview for 3 (waitlisted at 1) and got admitted to 2 (waitlisted at 1): Johnson (Cornell) and LBS. I received a $100k scholarship at Cornell, however am still waiting for a scholarship decision from LBS. I cannot imagine going through with this challenging process without Ryan’s support and guidance. I am very grateful to him!

When I started working on MBA applications, I did not know how to approach them, since as an international student, I did not have an experience of applying to US universities previously. Ryan guided me every step of the way. I really enjoyed working with Ryan: he was very honest and direct and provided unlimited essay reviews with short turnaround times. Ryan challenged me to reflect better on my past experiences and future goals. I always knew that he was ready to help me and was focused on me to prepare the best possible applications. I'm happy with both, the process and the results!

I applied to 6 full time MBA programs during Round 2. It took me 3 months to prepare those applications. I was invited to interview at 5 schools and was admitted to all of them. I was admitted to Stanford GSB, Chicago Booth, Columbia, Yale SOM, and Duke Fuqua, with scholarships in the range of 70k-110k at four schools.

I am very thankful to Ryan!

Ryan was a pleasure to work with and really made the admissions process as stress-free as possible! He has a wealth of knowledge that helped guide my priorities and made me use the time I had most efficiently. All of my results and hard-work with Ryan felt well earned - he will work you hard and get you to put out your best work! The best thing about his feedback is that he is extremely candid, and will tell you if you are going in the wrong direction. He knows each school and their priorities well, and will guide you in your research and self-reflection. Ryan only works with a few candidates a year so he really gets to know you quite well!

Amazed at my results - acceptance to my top choice Wharton with an extremely generous scholarship award (100k+!!!!!!!).

Could not recommend Ryan more highly. Watch his Youtube videos online to get to know a bit of his style. He is really the best!

To begin, I received offers to interview with 3/4 of the schools that Ryan and I worked on together, was admitted to 2/3 of those, and received scholarship offers from both, one of them being a full ride (the other was for $40k total).

Next, investing in an MBA is not a cheap endeavor, so spending additional money upfront may seem daunting. However, working with Ryan is completely worth the investment. Without Ryan, my resume would have been a toss in the trashcan compared to my final version, my essays would have been far less impactful, and I would have not been nearly as prepared for the three interviews.

Ryan will be hard and to the point, so don't expect a pep talk when you receive feedback. If you're expecting your resume or essays to be written for you, look elsewhere. Again though, the feedback is worth it in the end. Ryan is an experienced mentor that will give feedback with your best interests in mind. Anyone that works with him will be set up for success in their MBA journey.